Chapter 1,449
All the ministers had no choice but to continue walking with Xiao Lintian. After more than ten miles outside the imperial capital, they began to see deserted fertile fields.
Xiao Lintian pretended not to know whose farmland this was, and said regretfully: "It would be a pity not to grow food in such a good location!"
"Master Jiang, let the people in this area pass on the order. The imperial court encourages the reclamation of wasteland. Let the nearby villagers come to reclaim it and plant food during spring plowing!"
Mr. Jiang's face twitched. He didn't know if Xiao Lintian did it on purpose or if he really didn't know that this farmland belonged to Mr. Li's family.
Mr. Li also had troubles that he couldn't tell. It was his own initiative to encourage the reclamation of wasteland. For this reason, he was promoted to an official level.
Does he dare to tell the emperor now that this land is deserted by his family?
Sun Yushi is a straight man with an upright character. He is not afraid of Master Li's power. Seeing that Master Li was silent, he stood up and said: "Your Majesty, this is not a wasteland, but a fertile land with an owner!"
"Oh? If it's fertile land, why is it covered with weeds?"
Xiao Lintian pretended to be confused: "Are all the farmers in this village rich? Hundreds of acres of fertile farmland are just deserted. Isn't this a waste of natural resources?"
Xiao Lintian has already investigated who owns these farmlands, so saying this just leads to what follows.
Sun Yushi smiled coldly, glanced at Mr. Li mockingly, and said: "Your Majesty, I have to ask Mr. Li! These hundreds of acres of fertile land belong to Mr. Li!"
When Mr. Li heard Sun Yushi call his name, he was afraid that Xiao Lintian would be punished, so he had to come out and speak in panic.
"Sun Yushi, I don't know if this is my family's land. I'll ask the housekeeper when I get back!"
"Why go home and ask? The Ministry of Household Affairs is responsible for managing household registration fields. How could Mr. Jiang not know that? Just ask Mr. Jiang!"
Xiao Lintian looked at Master Jiang with a smile.
Mr. Jiang's head suddenly became heavy and he hesitated: "Your Majesty, there are so many household registrations in the imperial capital, and I can't remember so many. I'll check them when I go back!"
Xiao Lintian did not punish him. He looked at several officials from the Household Department and scolded him.
"Master Jiang is the minister. He has to take care of so many things that he can't remember. Don't you all remember? This is not one or two acres of land, but a large household with hundreds of acres!"
Several officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs looked at each other, and the inspector in charge of this area had no choice but to stand up and report: "If you go back to the emperor, this is indeed the fertile land of Mr. Li!"
Xiao Lintian looked at Master Li and asked in a friendly manner: "Master Li, this is your family's fertile land, why is it deserted?"
"Prime Minister Zhao, I remember that when the Supreme Emperor was in power, he issued a rule that no fertile land was allowed to be left uncultivated. Is this true?"
As the Prime Minister of a country, Zhao Hui was familiar with the laws. How dare he tell lies with his eyes open, so he had no choice but to stand up and say: "Report to the Emperor, this is indeed true!"
Mr. Li was so frightened that he broke into cold sweat.
The Supreme Emperor promulgated this law, but the law is a law. Many officials are like this, so they turn a blind eye to each other and don't take it seriously.
Now that Xiao Lintian brought it up, he couldn't take it seriously.
"Your Majesty, I have been busy with political affairs and have no time to take care of these things. It is my negligence!"
"I will definitely control them well when I go back, and I will urge them to plant food during spring plowing!"
Mr. Li panicked to defend himself.
Xiao Lintian smiled sarcastically and said solemnly: "Master Li works hard for the country and neglects to take care of the farmland. This is not Master Li's fault!"
"In the past, Prime Minister Zhao said something, and I deeply agree...skills require specialization! Talents like Master Li are overqualified to manage farmland!"
